As a Missouri employee are you work with or around forklifts? At Mayer & Rosenberg, P.C. knows the laws in each state and can make sure that you file your claim correctly to maximize your compensation.

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How do fork lift accidents happen?

Posted onFeb 11, 2016by Mayer & Rosenberg, P.C.

As a Missouri employee who works with or around forklifts, you might be aware of the dangers associated with this type of machinery. But exactly how do forklift accidents occur? Here at Mayer & Rosenberg, P.C., we are often asked this question.

Accidents involving forklifts can be caused by:

Operator error

Unsafe working conditions

Poorly-maintained or defective machinery

The first category includes events like exceeding the load limit, carrying the load too far from the ground, or going up an incline with a full load, which can cause tipping. Defective machines can have unbalanced forklifts which may also tip. Brake failures can cause the forklift to hit other workers. Objects may also shift or fall off during operation, which can cause injury to both you and other workers.

It is also wise to keep in mind that forklifts are heavier and often faster than you may think. Some types of forklifts can go up to 8 miles per hour, which may sound slow compared to vehicles used on the road. However, in a closed working environment, this can be too fast to dodge – especially if the forklift operator is distracted or not paying attention. Likewise, while forklifts are made to be compact, they are incredibly heavy because they need to be durable enough to lift large and heavy objects.

Because of these combined dangers, getting into an accident with a forklift may cause serious injury or even death. To read more about accidents involving forklifts, please visit our web page.

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.